Hero nurse Maud Kells, who was shot during a bandit attack in DR Congo three weeks ago, is making a steady recovery from her injuries.

Rev Ivor Smith of Molesworth Presbyterian Church in Cookstown, where Maud worships, delivered a message of thanks from the brave missionary to everyone in Northern Ireland concerned about her recovery.

"While she has been in a great deal of pain, thankfully this is now easing," he said.

"Her wounds are beginning to heal well, and she feels a lot better."

"Maud would like to thank everyone for their encouraging support and prayers and has been conscious of God's presence and healing touch throughout this ordeal."

The Northern Ireland missionary was awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours list just days before being been shot by robbers in Mulita, the remote Congo village where she was serving as a missionary midwife.

She was immediately evacuated for hospital treatment at Nyankunde. Maud (75) was scheduled to return home in a few weeks' time but her recuperation may now take a little longer,

Rev Smith said: "While her friends in Molesworth and WEC International are anxious to see her home soon, she is not yet strong enough for such a long journey.

"When she does return home she will obviously need some time to build up her strength and we would ask that her privacy, and that of her family, is respected until she is strong enough to talk about her ordeal."

Originally from Cookstown, she trained as a nurse at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital and has been engaged in charity work in Africa for more than 40 years.